Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-01-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Jan. III, 1887


regular appropriation bills were
pushed through the House, dozens
OF private pension bills were passed,
among them one giving Mrs. Logan
80, 900 a year, the Public Buildings
bill came up for attention, and also
that relating to a Reorga .ization Of
the Navy. In the Senate, secret
sessions were devoted to the
Mexican Reciprocity treaty, and
open sessions to the long lingering
question OF Interstate Commerce,
with its long haul, short haul, and
other prominent features.
The recent publication in New
York paper announcing that the
Pacific Railroads had been bribing
Congressman in wholesale fashion,
naturally attracted some attention
on Capitol Hill, and emphatic
denials were heard on every side.
Said one Member who had served
in the Forty Fourth, Fifth, Eighth,
and Ninth Congress, "There has
been less lobbying in the present
Congress than in any of the others,
and if it should be proven that any
Member has accepted brides as
claimed in that report, he would, of
course, be expelled
The Presidents message to the
Senate on his disappointment Of Mr..
Matthews, the colored Recorder
of deeds, from Albany, has not had
the effect he expected. Mr.. Cleve-
land did not think the citizens of
the District of Columbia would pro
test against the confirmation of this
appointee second time. But they
are more determined now that this
stranger shall not stay than they
were at first. Colored people,
North and South, without regard to
policies, are working in behalf of
Matthews. Senators have received
appeals from colored societies aud
prominent colored men. They seem
to have lost sight of political con-
siderations in the belief that Senate
rejected Mr.. Matthews because OF
his color.
1t is impossible to say now what
may be done in this Congress to-
wards Revenue Reform, but it is
quite certain that the Republicans
and the Randall men are nearing an
agreement and maturing raid on
the internal revenue, which will
probably be made this week. Their
aim will be to remove the tax on
tobacco, alcohol used in the arts,
and fruit brandies, whether an at
tempt be made to alter the Tariff or
not.
The Democrats have repeatedly
proven that they can do nothing OF
themselves. They lack both har-
mony and leadership. Said one of
them yesterday, ave haven't time
to fool away on Tariff matters, re.
duction ofrevenue can wait" Said
another, few moments later, "The
one thing that cannot wait is the
reduction of the surplus by repeal
OF tariff" Presidential aspirants
like Carlisle, Morrison, and Randall,
have sacrificed opportunities for
reducing taxation, it would seem, to
prevent the elevation Of one Of them
selves above the other certainly
acted in such away as to convince
the people that they will prevent
any legislation winch they cannot
have all their own way"
With "a resolution urging the
repeal of internal revenue taxation,
strong resolutions in favor of the
Blair Educational bill have been
introduced in the North Carolina
Legislature. The fact seems TO have
been over looked that if the Blair
bill is passed, there will be no need
to worry about the Treasury surplus.
Ii Education, coast defence, the
new Navy, and other things were
attended to on the liberal scale
proposed, reduction woulc; follow
expeditiously, without touching the
whisky and tobacco tax.
1t looks as il there would be a
temperance experiment in this city
sooner or later. Great effort has
been made to keep prohibition out
of Washington, but is thought use
less to try much longer. Congress
dictates to the District of Columbia,
and these days the petition boxes of
the Senate and House are crowded
with memorials on the subject of
temperance. And from the little
canvassing that has been attempted
among members of both branches of
Congress, it is thought large ma
jority are now ready to vote in
favor of stringent prohibitory law
for taiS little square of the public
domain.
The Washington Permanent Elk.
position project is now being agltat-
ed by congressional committee,
and the subject of Public Printer
Benedict's confirmation by the
Senate is being agita:ed by some
members OF the Typographical
Union. The Public Printer, under
the act creating the position, must
De pracGlcal printer and binder,
and be able to demonstrate his
fitness and capacity. This it is
said the present incubent cannot; he
will not get through the Senate, if
vigorous protests will do any good.
Anglomania has died out entirely
in Washington. The real Duke OF
Switzerland spent all last week at
one of the best hotels here, and
nobody called to see him. He was
so certain that the social world of
the Capital would want to llonize
him by storm, that he took the
unnecessary precaution of saying he
would decline to receive any cards.
He is the same nobleman who went
to a wedding at the house of Hon.
John Bigelow, in New York, attired